Bedpan cleanser and sterilizer



July 15 ,'1924. 1,501,826

` L. L. WATTERS BEDPAN CLENSER AND STERILIZER Filed June 29 1921 2Sheets-Sheet l July 15 1924. 1,501,826

L.. L WATTERS BEDPAN CLEANSER AND STERILIZER Filed June 29 1921 2Sheets-Sheet 2 s 7aV Patented July 15, 1924.

UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

LEON L. WATTERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR- TO HOSPITAL SUPPLYCOLIPANY AND WATTERS LABORATORIES CONSOLIDATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.v

BEDPAN CLEANSER AND STERILIZER.

Application led June 29, 1921. Serial No. 481,263.

To all lwhom it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, LEON L. WATTERS, al citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Bedpan Cleansers and Sterilizers,of which the following is a specification. f

One of the purposes of this invention is to produce an apparatus forthoroughly cleansing and sterilizing articles used in hospitals,particularly with reference to bedpans, in which it is desirable todisposeof the contents quickly and in a sanitaryl manner.

Another object is to provide an apparatus with means for the linlet ofwater sprays under an adequate pressure, rotate the article to becleansed so that all parts are subjected to the spray and finally tointroduce steam for sterilization purposes to such eX- tent as isnecessary.

A further aim is in the provision of means for hermetically sealing theapparatus during the processes of cleansing and sterilizing so that noodor or emanations may issue and to so mount the apparatus that alldbris and liquids used in cleansing are conducted directly to the drainwhich forms a support or pedestal of unique character.`

These and other analogous objects, which will become apparent as thedescription progresses, are attained by the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts,

. hereinafter described and shown in the ac- `companyingf drawings,forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an apparatus embodying theinvention, parts being broken away .to disclose the construction. Figure2 isa side elevational view thereof the cover being shown in raisedposition. igure 3 is a transverse sectional view ,taken on line 3 3 ofFigure 1.

Figure t is'a side view of the bed-pan, showing in detail the clamp andits revolvin means.

igure 5 is a. plan view thereof.

Figure 6 is a side view of the same, the parts being shown reversed fromthat shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modification ofconstruction.

Figure 8 is an enlargedl fragmentary sectional view of the lower steaminlet. y

Stated briefly in general terms, the apparatus comprises a cylindricaltank having a concave bottom, the top being open and provided with aband to which is hingedly engaged a cover and means for clamping thesame thereover when in operation.

In place of legs or supports, as commonly used, the tank is permanentlyengaged upon a special type of drain trap fitting whichcommunicates'directly with sewer connections so that no effluvia mayescape during operation, and because of the peculiar mounting employed,the ioor is easily kept clean. A

Intermediate the trap fitting and tank is a valve independently operatedin flushing the tank, which is provided with means for the separateinlet of water and steam under complete control of the operator. 'f

The tank band is furnished with a gasket making air tight connectionwith the cover and is provided with pedally operated means for openingand closing, thus leavino' the hands free for other purposes.

ounted to rotate cna horizontal axis in the tank is a cradle to whichthe bed-pan may be securely clamped and a crank extends into position tobe conveniently manip ulated for this purpose.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral designatesthe flanged base of a water sealed trap body 16, provided with aremovable plug-17 at the front and an outlet branch 18 at the rear inwhich isengaged a sewer pipe connection 19.

. The vertical branch 20 of the trap engages the lower end ofa valvebody 21, its

rotatable plug 22 beingv provided with a stem 23 having an operatinghand lever 24 and the upper end of the valve body engages the baseflange of the tank 25.

The pedestal thus provided is pgpferably finished in smooth white enamelwhile the tank body is of copper, plated if preferred and formed withoutseams, the concave lower portion having united to it a base flange 26.

At the upper edge of the tank is secured a circumjacent band or ring 27containing an annular recess in which is disposed a gasket or pliablepacking 28, against which the edge of the ring portion 29 of the coveror lid 30 makes contact.

This cover is formed concavo-convexly from sheet metal, like that of thetank, and is provided with a rigid loop 31 at the center, in which isengaged a lever 32, curved in conformity with the cover and held in theloop by a transverse pivot pin 33.

The rear extending. end 34 is pivoted by a pin 35 passing through .afork 36, formed with the band 27, and its front end 37 is adapted to beengaged by a loop or catch 38 pivoted to lugs 39 extending from the banddiametrically opposite the fork 36, the clamp loop 38 having an,operating handle 40.

A rearward extension 41 of the lever 32 is pivoted to one end of a link42 and the p opposite end of the link is pivotally engaged ywith a yoke43 in turn 'pivoted at its ends to brackets 44 fixed on the wall of thetank.

A spindle 45, connecting the link 42 to the yoke, has attached to itsends, a pair of rods 46 which extend downwardly and to the front, onyopposite sides, of the pedestal and pivotally engage levers 47, in turnpivoted on a rod 48 fixed in the rear portion of the trap 16, the frontends of the levers being fixed to a pedal 49.

Due to the pivotal connection of the cover to the lever 32, the cover isself-adjustable and may be clamped to form an impervious joint on theedge of the tank. When the clamp 38 is released and the pedal 49depressed it is evident that the cover will be raised, affording a clearopening to the tank.

A stud 50 is xed in the tank at the rear, midway its length, the studacting as a pivot for a bar 5l, having its ends 52 and 53 bent at rightangles, the front end 53 having fixed in it a spindle 54 extendingthrough the wall ofthe tank and engaged with a manually operable crankhandle 55.

Cross arms 56 are secured at the center of che bar 51, the bar and armshaving near their ends lugs 57 in which are secured a seat or guide ring58 formed of a wire bent to engage the article to be cleansed, and whichis thus suspended so that its weight is below the axis of the supportingpivots and hangs pendantly thereby facilitating the entrance or removalof the article to be cleansed..

'A post 59 is raised from the bar 51, near the angle en d 52 and pivotedin the post merece is a trap 60 forked at its front end to engage aprojection 61 raised from the bar 51 near its front end and having a snacatch 62 engageable with the strap at the ottoni of the prongs 63forming the hook.

Fixed to the strap, near the fork, is a forked lug 64 in which ispivotally mounted a hand lever 65, its curved point 66 being positionedto engage and release the catch 62 when the lever is depressed andthereby free the strap permitting the article clamped by it to beremoved.

Engaged centrally of the strap 60 is a fixed stud 81 to which isattached upper and lower leaf springs, respectively 82 and 83, adaptedto make resilient contact with the upper surface of the pan, holding itfirmly in engagement with the seat ring 58, when the strap is clampedthereover.

At a point opposite one side of the work holder or cradle justdescribed, a plate 67 is secured by its flanged edge interiorly thetank, the spaced portion of theV plate containing a plurality ofperforations 68. This plate covers the opening of a flange 69 fixed onthe outside of the tank and en gaginga pipe 70 controlled by an anglevalve 71, the outer inlet of which is connected with a water supply pipe72.

Below the water inlet is a steam inlet pipe 73 entering the tank 25 at apoint above its curved lower portion, this pipe being a branchof anothersteam pipe 74 entering the lower portion of the tank 25, the inlet ofsteam being controlled by a valve 75, the pipe 7 6 beyond the valveleading to a boiler from where a supply of steam can be obtained.

The purpose of the double steam inlets is to prevent noise caused by asingle inlet, particularly if water be present in the tank, the waterpassing down in the pipe to the T 97 where steam enters through thepassage in the valve 75 and is directed centrally of the pipe 74 by theconical element 98, acting as a-type of injector, preheating the waterwhich is mingled with the steam, and entering the tank without noise,thus affording means for thoroughly sterilizing thepan and contents ofthe tank as will be understood.

A combined over-flow and vent pipe 77 communicates with the tank at itsrear, directly behind the looped bracket 96 which carries the pivot pin50, the pipe leading to a T fitting 78 having a removable plug 79 in itsupper through end and another pipe 8O in its lower end, entering thedrain connectionv 16, thereby limiting the accumu lation of water in thetank and alsoy acting as a vent to the same.

In the modication, shown in Figure 7,

the tank and its interior parts remain the same as previously described,as is also the direct with the chamber 86, which is provided with anoutlet 92 returning tothe source of steam supply.

This arrangement provides means for merely heating the tank, by openingthe valve 91, or for entering steam by the valve 89 as may be desired.

As changes of-construction could be made within the scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoingdescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense, it being obvious thatchanges, not involving the exercise of invention, may be made withoutconflicting with the scope of the appended claims.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is p 1. An apparatus comprising a tank havinga hinged cover, agasket carried by the rim of said tank, means forclamping 'the cover to form an impervious joint with said tank, a workholder revolubly mounted in the tank, means fon manually actuating saidholder, means for spraying the work carried in the holder, a hollowpedestal on which said tank is vmounted, a drainage means connected withsaid pedestal, and pedally operated means for raising said cover.

2. An apparatus comprising a vertical cylindrical tank having a coveradapted to form an impervious joint thereover, `a foot lever for raisingsaid cover, a hollow pedestal on which said tank is mounted, saidpedestal havingan expanded base above the ioor and containing a passageleading fromD the tank to a drain, means for positively controlling thementioned passage, a work Vholdwer mounted on a transverse axis in saidtank, means for completely rotating said holder, controlled means forthe admission of water directed against work in said holder, othercontrolled means for the admission of steam to said tank at a pointbelow the water-inlet, and a combined vent and overflow for vsaid tank,entering said hollow pedestal. 3. lAn apparatus comprising a verticalcylindrical tank having an impervious cover removably engaged, separatemeans independently controllable'for the admission of water and of steamto said tank, a Work holder disposed transversely inthe tank, a pivotedspring clamp bar on'said holder for positively clamping work therein, acrank by which said holder may be completely and continuously rotated ineither dlrection on a transverse axis, means for draining said tank intoa sewer, a rotary valve controlling said draining means, and a combinedvent and overiow from said tank entering said draining means.

4:. An apparatus composed of a vertical cylindrical tank, a domed covertherefor, a

curved bar hinged near one end to said tank, a clevis xed axially onsaid cover engaging said bar by a transverse pivot, brackets on saidtank,` a yoke pivoted in the brackets, a spindle fixed in the end ofsaid yoke, a link connecting said spindle with the extending end of saidbar, rods at the ends of said spindle, a trap in communication with saidtank, levers pivoted to said trap, said levers being pivotally engagedby said rods, a pedal connecting said levers, and a loop pivoted to saidtank engageable with the free end of said bar whereby said cover may beheld in firm engagement with the edge of said tank.

5. An apparatus comprising a stationary tank connected with an axialdrain, an intercepting valve in the passage therebetween, means for theinlet of water to the tank, a heating chamber below said tank, means forthe inlet of steam to the tank, and to said chamber, a combined overflowand vent pipe communicating between the upper` portion of said tank andthe drain, and a drain for said chamber.

6. In an apparatus ofthe class described, the combination with astationary tank, a work holder pivoted to rotate on a horizontal axistherein, said support comprising a lurality of arms disposed in a planebelow lts pivotal supports, a ring carried by said arms adaptedtoreceive a bed pan, a strap hinged over said arms, means for detachablydivergent arms, two of v ient strap for clamping a pan on said ring,

a spring hook engaging said strap, a lever releasing means for saidhook, and means for rotating said frame on its pivots.

8. A bed pan support comprising a plurality of radial arms, ivots in theends of one pair of diametrica 1y opposite arms, said pivots beingmounted above the plane of the arms, a seat ring carried by the arms, apost 5 on one of said arms, a strap hinged to said post, a resilientcatch opposite said post adapted to engage the free end of said strap,

Alaminas@ means' on said strap for disenga ing said catch, and means forrotating sai support upon its pivots.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speciicatiom LEN L.WATTERS

